BASEBALL

Taking a break from Crossroads League action, the HU baseball team disposed of IUPUC 10-7 Tuesday afternoon at Forest Glen Park. It marked the sixth time these two programs have squared off with Huntington dominating the series 5-1.

Both teams logged double digit hits with the hosts holding a slight 13-10 advantage. Pitching was by committee with Grant Simmons, HU’s second of four pitchers, notching the win. He tossed three frames and gave up three hits, two runs and one walk while striking out four of the 13 batters he faced.

The Foresters sifted through three IUPUC pitchers with Darius Compton, who got the starting nod, being charged with the loss.

Lead-off Bryce Deckman needed just one pitch to get his team on the board. The junior right fielder crushed the first pitch he faced over the left field fence in the bottom of the first for a quick HU lead of 1-0. Kade Flores then doubled in a run in the second for the first of two RBI-hits.

Huntington’s 2-0 lead was erased by the third. The Pride would go on to grab the lead at 4-2 in their half of the fourth but the hosts stole it back in the bottom of that same frame. After Beyonce Paco Paulina found his way to first by way of an IUPUC error, he eventually came around to score on Gregory Nolasco Berroa’s sac fly. With two runners on, Jordan Malott then lasered a shot into right center for a two-run triple to give his team a permanent lead.

HU scored three times in the seventh. IUPUC followed suit in the eighth for an 8-7 ball game but then Sebastian Kuhns left no doubt with a bomb over the left center field fence in the home half of the frame. His two-run blast was the finishing touch on the slugfest as closer Adam Oxley worked a 1-2-3 ninth to call it quits.

Flores had a productive day at the plate by going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Malott finished with two hits and two RBI while Dylan Rost added a pair of hits which included an RBI-double in the seventh.

With this win, the Foresters improve to 22-14. Next up is a four-game home series with Grace over the weekend.